Results tagged ‘ Marcus Semien ’

Jake Peter’s go-ahead double in the ninth Sunday extended his hitting streak to 17 games and propelled the Dash to a 5-2 series-clinching victory over the Carolina Mudcats. Winston-Salem begins a week-long homestand Monday with the start of a three-game series with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Peter’s 17-game hit streak is the longest by a Carolina Leaguer in 2015 by four games. Since May 27, the pride of Mason City, Iowa, is 22-for-64 (.344) with 11 RBIs and 15 runs scored. Among active streaks in Minor League Baseball, Peter’s 17-game run is tied for the third-longest. A pair of Eastern League hitters (Altoona’s Willy Garcia and New Hampshire’s Dalton Pompey) are riding 19-game streaks into Monday’s action. Peter had posted a hit in the first in three straight games before Sunday’s ninth-frame save.

Peter’s 17-game hit streak is the longest by a Winston hitter since current Oakland infielder Marcus Semien recorded an 18-game run in 2012. In the Dash era (2009-present), Peter’s current surge is tied for the fifth-best hit streak.

For the fourth time this season, Winston-Salem claimed a victory in its last at-bat on Sunday. The Dash’s first three came against Salem. The Dash have suffered seven last at-bat defeats. Still, the club has not earned a walk-off victory.

After missing the first 63 games of the Dash’s season due to injury, right-hander Brandon Brennan will make his 2015 debut on Monday night. Brennan takes the place of Jake Cose in the rotation. Cose will now pitch out of the Dash’s bullpen. A year ago, Brennan made 14 appearances over three levels (Great Falls, Kannapolis and Winston-Salem) as he worked back from Tommy John surgery. In his six starts with the Dash to complete the season, Brennan went 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA (22 K in 30.2 IP).

The Dash’s bullpen was outstanding in the club’s two victories in Zebulon this weekend. After Jordan Guerrero’s ejection on Saturday, three relievers (Euclides Leyer, Brad Goldberg and Peter Tago) combined to give up just one run on five hits over six innings. Brian Clark and Michael Ynoa one-upped this trio in the rubber tilt, combining to keep Carolina hitless in four frames.

Trey Michalczewski is day-to-day with an unspecified injury. Before sitting out the final two games of the series in Carolina, Michalczewski had started every game of the season for the Dash.

To make room for Brennan on the roster, the White Sox announced Monday that right-hander Jose Brito has been assigned to Low-A Kannapolis. In his 16 efforts with the Dash, Brito charted a 2-3 record and a 4.66 earned run average.

BROADCAST INFORMATION:

Monday’s game will be available on wsdash.com/broadcast, along with the TuneIn Radio app. The Pregame Dash will begin at 6:45 p.m., with the first pitch at 7 p.m.

The Dash’s gritty win overshadowed infielder Jake Peter, who pushed his hitting streak to 16 games with a first-inning single. This hit streak represents the longest by a Carolina Leaguer in 2015. Since May 27, the former seventh-round pick is 21-for-59 (.356) with 10 RBIs and 14 runs. Among active streaks in Minor League Baseball, Peter’s 16-game run is the fourth-longest. There has been little drama for Peter, who has come up with a hit in the first inning in three consecutive games.

Peter’s 16-game hit streak is the longest by a Winston hitter since current Oakland infielder Marcus Semien recorded an 18-game run from April 23 to May 12 of 2012. In the Dash era (2009-present), Peter’s current 16-game surge is the sixth-longest hit streak. Brandon Short boasts the longest run by a Dash hitter, a 26-gamer from April 11 to May 8 of 2010.

After going 1-for-30 with men in scoring position in their previous four games, the Dash were 4-for-11 on Saturday night. Adam Engel, who is now tied for second in the CL in stolen bases at 25, ripped off a pair of swipes after just three in his previous 24 games. Cleuluis Rondon posted his first multi-hit game since May 7.

Before Saturday’s victory, the Dash had dropped eight consecutive road games dating back to May 23. This is tied for the worst road losing streak of the Dash era (2009-present). Winston-Salem also dropped eight in a row away from the Triad in August of 2014. The franchise has not endured a longer road skid since August 10-22, 2006, when the Warthogs dropped nine straight road games. During this losing streak, the Dash were outscored 47-23, and they failed to surpass three runs in all but two games.

Winston-Salem infielder Trey Michalczewski enjoyed his first off day of 2015 on Saturday. Michalczewski had started in all of the Dash’s first 60 games. He is second in the Carolina League with 39 RBIs, trailing only Lynchburg slugger Nellie Rodriguez (50). Now, the only Dash player to play in every game this season is outfielder Adam Engel, who is the only player on the circuit to play in every inning for his team.

Following Sunday’s rubber match, the Dash will return to the Triad for a week-long homestand, which includes the conclusion of the suspended game on June 2 against Salem.

In his last start Tuesday against Wilmington, Robinson Leyer posted his second career professional complete game (7IP, 3R, 6H).

Before Saturday, a member of the Dash had only been ejected four times.

BROADCAST INFORMATION:

Sunday’s game will be available on wsdash.com/broadcast, along with the TuneIn Radio app. The Pregame Dash will begin at 5:45 p.m., with the first pitch at 6 p.m.

In the losing effort, Winston-Salem infielder Jake Peter pushed his hitting streak to 15 games with a first-inning double. This hit streak represents the longest by a Carolina Leaguer in 2015. Since May 27, the former seventh-round pick is 20-for-55 (.364) with 10 RBIs and 13 runs. Among active streaks in the Minor Leagues, Peter’s 15-game run is the fourth-longest. Three men, including former big league outfielder and Tacoma Rainier Franklin Gutierrez, have hit safely in 17 consecutive games.

Peter’s 15-game hit streak is the longest by a Winston hitter since current Oakland infielder Marcus Semien recorded an 18-game run from April 23 to May 12 of 2012. In the Dash era (2009-present), Peter’s current 14-game surge is tied for the sixth-longest hit streak. Brandon Short boasts the longest run by a Dash hitter, a 26-gamer from April 11 to May 8 of 2010.

While Peter has been outstanding, the team as a whole has labored in run-scoring chances. The Dash went hitless in nine at-bats with men in scoring position in Friday’s loss. In their last four games, Winston-Salem is 1-for-30 with runners in scoring position. As a club, the Dash hit .244 in such situations. Winston-Salem is behind every Carolina League outfit in this category save fellow last-place Potomac (.237).

The Dash have dropped eight consecutive road games dating back to May 23. This is tied for the worst road losing streak of the Dash era (2009-present). Winston-Salem also dropped eight in a row away from the Triad in August of 2014. The franchise has not endured a longer road skid since August 10-22, 2006, when the Warthogs dropped nine straight road games. During this losing streak, the Dash have been outscored 47-23, and they have failed to surpass three runs in all but two of their games.

Dash third baseman Trey Michalczewski drove home his 39th RBI in Friday’s first inning. He is second in the CL in RBIs, trailing only Lynchburg slugger Nellie Rodriguez (48). Since May 5, Michalczewski has amassed 31 RBIs, which are good for a share of 10th in all of Minor League Baseball during this span. Only Rodriguez (32) has more among Carolina Leaguers.

The Dash’s last four victories have come by exactly one run, while three of their last six losses have been decided by five or more runs.

Left-hander Jordan Guerrero will make his second High-A start on Saturday. He whiffed the first five he faced in his Dash debut on Sunday, though he did give up four runs in five-plus innings.

With Friday’s loss, the Dash have been eliminated from first-half postseason contention.

BROADCAST INFORMATION:

Saturday’s game will be available on wsdash.com/broadcast, along with the TuneIn Radio app. The Pregame Dash will begin at 5:45 p.m., with the first pitch at 6 p.m.

The Dash just released their 2015 Opening Day roster, so let’s delve a little deeper into some of the names to know for the upcoming season:

CJ Beatty was with Winston-Salem for a brief time in 2014 (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).

Winston-Salem Natives:OF C.J. Beatty & INF Chris Jacobs

Last season, Beatty became the first Winston-Salem native to suit up for the club in the Dash era. The outgoing Beatty is back for more at BB&T Ballpark this summer, and he will be joined by Jacobs, another Winston-Salem native.

Both players have taken a winding road to get to this point. Beatty was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals back in 2009 before being released by the organization following the 2010 season. The North Carolina A&T product spent four seasons in various independent leagues before hooking on with the Chicago White Sox in 2014. Meanwhile, Jacobs was a 2007 selection of the Los Angeles Dodgers and played seven seasons in their system before getting released this winter and signing with the White Sox.

The Corner Mashers:INF Keon Barnum & INF Trey Michalczewski

Two of the Dash’s main power sources in 2015 figure to come from the corners of their infield. Both Barnum (supplemental first round, 2012) and Michalczewski (7th, 2013) were highly drafted by the White Sox coming out of high school. The Dash are hoping each player can build off their 2014 campaign, when the pair combined to drive in 135 runs. The switch-hitting Michalczewski was ranked by MLB.com as the eighth-best prospect in the White Sox organization, while the lefty-swinging Barnum is 29th.

Dash pitchers fanned the most opposing batters (1,087) in the Carolina League last season, and at least four of them will be back with the club in a bullpen role in 2015. Pitching coach J.R. Perdew also returns for a fourth consecutive season. Since Perdew rejoined Winston-Salem for his third tenure with the franchise in 2012, the club possesses a team earned run average of 3.85, which is third-best in the Carolina League during that span.

Why Walk?RHP Tony Bucciferro & RHP James Dykstra

Speaking of returning pitchers, both Bucciferro and Dykstra come back to the Dash in 2015. If either right-hander is on the mound, expect opponents to try to swing away; the duo combined for 140 strikeouts against just 22 walks last year with Winston-Salem. The ability of each to pound the strike zone and pitch efficiently should help rest the bullpen and keep arms fresh throughout the year.

A 2012 Bounce-back?LHP Matt Heidenreich & OF Keenyn Walker

Both Heidenreich and Walker turned in promising seasons for the Dash back in 2012. The pair are hoping that starting the 2015 campaign in Winston-Salem can help both them and the club rekindle the magic of 2012, when the Dash went 87-51 and finished 13.5 games better than any other team in the Carolina League. Heidenreich, a 2009 fourth-round pick, and Walker, a 2011 supplemental first rounder, both have the talent to make it happen.

The 2014 Draft Class:LHP Brian Clark, LHP Jace Fry & INF Jake Peter

Three members of the White Sox 2014 draft class will open the season with a full-season club for the first time. Clark and Fry figure to be critical on the pitching side, while Peter should open the year as the Dash’s starting second baseman. How the trio adjusts to the rigors of a 140-game schedule will be key to how much success Winston-Salem enjoys in 2015.

The Brother:RHP Robinson Leyer

Euclides Leyer pitched in 34 games for the Dash a year ago, but in 2015, it’s up to his brother Robinson to carry on the family name in a Winston-Salem uniform. When you might see the name “Leyer” on the back of the Dash uniforms, however, may be slightly different this season. Euclides worked only as a reliever with the Dash, while Robinson has been a starter throughout his professional career, something that will continue with the Dash in 2015.

The New Guy:RHP Michael Ynoa

One of the newest members in the entire White Sox organization is Ynoa, who was packaged along with big league RHP Jeff Samardzija in the December trade that sent Dash alums INF Marcus Semien, RHP Chris Bassitt, C Josh Phegley and INF Rangel Ravelo from Chicago to Oakland. Ynoa received the largest contract the A’s had ever given out ($4.25 million) in 2008 and was ranked a top 100 prospect twice before injuries derailed his career. Maybe a fresh start in a new organization is what it takes to get the talented right-hander back on track.

This group helps makes up nine of the 10 infielders and outfielders on the Dash’s Opening Day roster who played for the club last season. How they are able to use their past experience in the Carolina League will be crucial to determining if the Dash can return to the postseason.

The Catching Duo:C Omar Narvaez & C Jeremy Dowdy

The 2014 Dash Opening Day roster featured three backstops, so playing time for both Narvaez and Dowdy should be easier to find than the 2014 trio had last year. It will be interesting to see how much manager Tim Esmay platoons the pair if they are both able to get ample rest, as Narvaez bats from the left side while Dowdy is a right-handed hitter.

The Intriguing Southpaw:LHP Andre Wheeler

Wheeler didn’t pitch full-time until his final year at Texas Tech in 2013 but has steadily put up impressive numbers in his first two professional seasons. Originally drafted as an outfielder by the Dodgers out of high school, Wheeler can be a crucial part of the 2015 Dash if he continues to build on his success pounding the strike zone with his high-voltage stuff.

The Tall Guys:RHP Jose Brito & LHP Jefferson Olacio

At six-foot-seven, both Brito and Olacio share the distinction of being the tallest players on the Opening Day roster. The height of both hurlers may be the same, but how they pitch is completely different. The 210-pound Brito is a finesse pitcher, hoping to lure opponents into chopping the ball into the ground, while the 295-pound Olacio tries to overpower opposing batters.

Stay tuned for a preview of the season opener in Frederick on Thursday!

Within the latter of those two transactions, the White Sox had to surrender some significant talent. On behalf of the entire Dash organization, I would like to wish good luck to the four players included in the blockbuster deal: right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt, catcher Josh Phegley and infielders Rangel Ravelo and Marcus Semien.

All four of these players spent a significant amount of time in Winston-Salem and were tremendous both on and off the field. Even though they are no longer members of the White Sox system, I hope Dash and Sox fans continue to root for them in Oakland.

Each team in the system is at least 10 games into the season, so let’s spin around the organization and see how each team is doing thus far this season.

MLB: Chicago White Sox (7-6)

Former Dash star Jordan Danks (right) is ready to fill in for Avisail Garcia in the White Sox outfield (photo via chicagonow.com).

Chris Sale improved to 3-0 this season after Friday’s outing against the Indians, but the White Sox bats played a big role in the outcome. Sale grinded through five innings, allowing three runs and six hits while striking out five. The ace spoke with the Chicago Sun-Times following his start.

Infielder Marcus Semien has played well of late, recording hits in nine of his last ten games. Among those was this solo homer on Sunday against Cleveland:

In this whitesox.com article, learn more about Erik Johnson’s standing in the Chicago pitching rotation. Plus, Semien takes part in Jackie Robinson Day festivities on Tuesday and who Sale credits for the development of his changeup:

Thanks to the season-ending shoulder injury to Avisail Garcia, outfielder Jordan Danks was called up from Triple-A Charlotte to help fill the void. The Dash alumnus spoke with CSN Chicago about the opportunity:

Triple-A: Charlotte Knights (6-6)

Catcher Josh Phegley is off to a solid start in 2014. His .286 batting average currently ranks second on the team among qualifying players, and he has scored four runs in eight games.

The Knights opened their sparkling new Uptown Charlotte facility, the second BB&T Ballpark, on Friday night against the Norfolk Tides. For a recap of their historic evening, click here.

Double-A: Birmingham Barons (5-5)

The defending Southern League champions won three of five games against the Jacksonville Suns to reach the .500 mark. The Barons were washed out at Mobile on Monday night, so a doubleheader is on tap this evening.

Former Dash outfielder Trayce Thompson was recently profiled on MiLB.com talking about some of the valuable lessons he learned during Spring Training with the White Sox.

Low-A: Kannapolis Intimidators (4-7)

The Intimidators were swept in a four-game series at Greenville this weekend, the last contest a heartbreaking 5-4 setback to the Drive in 14 innings. Kannapolis looks to regain its footing this week in Hickory. That series opener was also postponed, so the Intimidators and Crawdads will play two this evening.

Infielder Cleuluis Rondon continues his development at the Low-A level. The Venezuelan native, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Sunday, is batting .298 with six RBIs, three runs scored and three stolen bases in 11 games.

Stay tuned for a preview of tonight’s homestand opener against Frederick.

The rainy off-day for the Dash means that it’s a perfect time to scroll through the White Sox system to see how the teams and some former Dash players are doing.

Chicago White Sox (3-3):

Chris Sale dazzled in his start against the Royals on Sunday, tossing eight scoreless innings while striking out six. Following his outing, Sale told whitesox.com, “You know what you’re getting when you face a team like this and a starter like James (Shields). You’ve just got to bear down and give it everything you’ve got.” Sale is now 2-0 on the season with a 1.76 ERA on the young season.

Marcus Semien has received plenty of congratulatory high fives so far in 2014 (Ed Zurga via zimbio.com).

Infielder Marcus Semien has started all six games, playing at second base and third base. With Gordon Beckham recovering from an oblique injury, the Chicago Sun-Times discussed Semien’s attempt to convince White Sox management to keep him in the lineup.

Erik Johnson struggled in his first start with the South Siders this year, allowing seven runs against the Royals on Friday. Fellow Dash alum Jake Petricka also pitched in that contest. Johnson spoke with the Chicago Tribune following his start, and you can read about that here.

Nate Jones, who pitched with Winston-Salem from 2008-10, allowed four runs in two outings and failed to retire a single batter. He was sent to the disabled list on Friday with a strained hip muscle, and could miss more than two weeks. Before he was placed on the DL, Jones told CSN Chicago’s Dan Hayesabout his discomfort.

Charlotte Knights (3-1):

Dylan Axelrod, who pitched for the Dash in 2009 and 2010, had a solid outing against Norfolk on Sunday, allowing just one run in five innings while striking out seven batters. The Knights won that game, 2-1.

Former White Sox slugger Jim Thome will be tossing the ceremonial first pitch at Charlotte’s home opener in their new ballpark on Friday, April 11 against Norfolk. Thome, who played with the Knights in 1993, spoke with charlotteknights.com about his time there.

Birmingham Barons (1-2):

The defending Southern League champions won their opener against Montgomery before losing two straight games. Following a rainout on Sunday, the Barons are playing a doubleheader against the Biscuits today to conclude their five-game opening series.

Former Dash infielder Micah Johnson is off to a hot start in Birmingham, hitting .462 with a home run, two RBIs and four runs scored in three games. Johnson was recently featured on al.com prior to Opening Day.

Kannapolis Intimidators (2-2):

The Intimidators split their opening weekend series with Greenville and return to Kannapolis for their scheduled home opener against Hickory tonight.

Tyler Danish, a second-round draft pick of the White Sox last year, shined for Kannapolis in their Friday night victory over Greenville. The 19-year-old pitcher struck out six over five innings while allowing no earned runs.

That’s your look around the White Sox system. The Dash will take the field again Tuesday night at Salem, trying to cool off a Red Sox team that started 2014 with a weekend sweep of Myrtle Beach. All three games of that series are scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. Join Brian Boesch for the Pregame Dash at 6:50!

The White Sox are already two weeks into their exhibition slate in Arizona, and some former Dash players are doing their best to impress the big club.

Infielder Micah Johnson is not only batting .455 and leading the team in runs scored this spring, but the 2013 Dash alum is also turning some heads with his defense. Johnson made this spectacular diving catch against the Brewers on Monday:

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That catch made SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays at #4. Pretty impressive stuff.

A few former Winston-Salem hurlers are throwing well in Glendale. Southpaw Charlie Leesman has posted a 1.69 ERA in 4 Cactus League appearances, tossing 5.1 innings while striking out 5 batters. Despite those numbers, the 2010 Dash alum was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, possibly because he has minor league options remaining on his contract. However, the strong spring showing should keep Leesman on the White Sox radar for the future.

Righty Erik Johnson has thrived in two starts this spring, garnering a 2.57 ERA while striking out 7 batters in 7.0 innings. The 2012 Dash standout is making a bid to join the White Sox rotation in 2014, and manager Robin Ventura has taken notice. “With what he did last year and so far what you see, you like what you see,” Ventura recently told CSN Chicago.

Johnson is also getting some attention for his demeanor off the mound. Check out this recent Chicago Sun-Times article for more on that, which includes comments from fellow White Sox prospect and former Dash teammate Marcus Semien.

Four years ago, Chris Sale was in Winston-Salem. On Opening Day, he will be on the hill for the White Sox.

Finally, here are a few roster notes. First, the Sox have tabbed Chris Sale as their Opening Day starter for a second straight year. The 25-year-old, who made his professional debut with the Dash in 2010, says he appreciates the opportunity, per this whitesox.com article: “As much as you sit here and say ‘Treat it like another start,’ it’s the first one of the year and you are obviously going to be amped up for it and excited for it.”

The White Sox also made several roster moves on Wednesday involving Dash alumni. Outfielders Jared Mitchell and Trayce Thompson were optioned to Double-A Birmingham, while catcher Miguel Gonzalez, pitcher Scott Snodgress and outfielder Keenyn Walker were reassigned to minor league camp. This is common during Spring Training, as youngsters get a chance to work with the big club. Here’s hoping these men use their experience well while continuing to climb the minor league ladder in 2014.

Most outlets believe the White Sox farm system has improved significantly over the last couple of years. Even though a system is not completely defined by its top few players, boasting multiple top-flight prospects goes a long way in public perception.

Baseball America released its Top 100 Prospect List in advance of the 2014 season, and the White Sox claimed four of the players on the list. A year ago, Chicago only had one Top 100 farmhand (Courtney Hawkins at 55).

This year, a pair of Dash alumni represented the White Sox. Righty Erik Johnson, who is a favorite to corral a rotation spot in The Show, checks in at 63, while fellow Cal product Marcus Semien, a versatile infielder who had a monster 2013 season, is at 91.

Two newly-acquired prospects rounded out Chicago’s representatives. Free agent signing Jose Abreu, who figures into Chicago’s big league plans this year, was the top-ranked White Sox product on the list by collecting the 29 slot. Matt Davidson, who came over from Arizona in the Addison Reed trade during the offseason, is at 72.

For comparison, here is how the White Sox stacked up to other big league clubs represented in the Carolina League on the Top 100 Prospect List:

Outside of Boston’s significant lead, the White Sox are right there, especially when you consider Texas had two of the last four players on the list. Regardless, the reality is that Chicago’s system is on the upswing, and the talent that could come through Winston-Salem in 2014 is impressive, too. Fans should not be surprised to see even more newcomers on this list from the White Sox system in 2015.

At the end of the 2012 season, Johnson was Winston-Salem’s ace, posting a 2.74 earned run average in eight starts down the stretch. Last year, the former California Golden Bear dominated between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte to the tune of a 12-3 record and a 1.96 ERA.

Johnson earned a September promotion to Chicago, where he went 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA in five impressive starts. He will not be a prospect for long because “Puma” has a great chance to be in the Sox rotation on Opening Day.

And hey, if this baseball thing does not work out for Johnson, he could always go into sales. Check out the great video below of Johnson and former Dash shortstop Marcus Semien making sales calls for the White Sox, courtesy of whitesox.com.

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The White Sox acquired Davidson from Arizona for former Winston-Salem flamethrower Addison Reed. Davidson also figures to play in Chicago for some or all of the 2014 season. He hit .237 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 31 games with the Diamondbacks late last year.

MLB.com’s Top 20 White Sox prospect list is available here (which does not jive with the Top 100 countdown, as Davidson tops the group). An impressive 12 players on this list have played in the Triad at some point in their minor league journeys.

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